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A 15-Year-Old Convinced Verizon He Was the Head of the CIA (newsweek.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the one-factor-authentication dept.

schwit1 shares an interesting story. Newsweek reports: A British teenager managed to obtain access to sensitive U.S. plans about intelligence operations in different Middle East countries by acting as former CIA Director John Brennan, a court heard on Friday. Kane Gamble, 18, researched Brennan and used the information he gathered to speak to an internet company and persuade call handlers to give him access to the spy chief's email inbox in 2015. He pretended to be both a Verizon employee and Brennan to access Brennan's internet account.

Astonishingly, Gamble managed to gain access to Brennan's emails and his addressbook, as well as his iCloud storage. He even managed to remotely access the iPad of Brennan's wife... Gamble, aged 15 at the time, also persuaded a helpdesk at the FBI that he was the then deputy director Mark Giuliano... In October 2017, Gamble pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including eight charges of "performing a function with intent to secure unauthorized access" to the computers and two of "unauthorized modification of computer material."

143 comments

  1. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    The USA government types are incompetent with IT.

    1. Re:Good by hambone142 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not only I.T. but most categories.

      Government workers are often chosen due to aspects unrelated to ability.

      We shouldn't expect much from them.

    2. Re:Good by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Government workers are often chosen due to aspects unrelated to ability.

      Unlike private businesses, where employees are chosen purely on merit.

      https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy...

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While I agree with you, in this case it was Verizon that gave the kid access to the Director of the FBI's personal accounts.

    4. Re: Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hear Putin keeps a secret harem of boys.

    5. Re:Good by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      The USA government types are incompetent with IT.

      Most organizations are, public or private. Give the executives and marketers pretty eye-candy and they are happy. The rest is second fiddle.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    6. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This was Verizon employees you retarded pseudo-Libertarian cunt.

    7. Re:Good by hey! · · Score: 2

      The question is, is any organization actually competent with IT?

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    8. Re:Good by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Isn't this about Verizon failing, not the gov?

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    9. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That pic must be from before she had the boob job done.

    10. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tech companies more so - since Information Technology is their bread and butter.

    11. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, I often see it in job ads i government when they require a crap load of very specific skills that likely only one person would have. It's their excuse to hire their friend... You wouldn't understand it until you've seen it from the inside.

    12. Re: Good by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Funny

      I hear Putin keeps a secret harem of boys.

      And he likes to call them all, "Donald".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    13. Re:Good by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      The USA government types are incompetent with IT.

      Isn't this about Verizon failing, not the gov?

      The Slashdot reader types are incompetent with reading.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    14. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hambone faggot can't even read, it was VERIZON EMPLOYEES! What a fucking moron - of course he supports traitor Trump too, every day lol. Dipshit says the government is so dumb but illiterate alt-reich faggots are geniuses? lol

    15. Re:Good by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 2

      The easy answer is yes.
      I yesterday had a mandatory 'internet security' training.
      The trainer is a 'high guy' in the security department/IT department.
      He claimed, a 'reply-to' tag/field is added to an received email when 'the mail server' recognizes that the real adress from where the email came is not the same as in the 'from field'.
      And then again, if 'from' and 'reply-to' does not match, the mail is flagged as spam or suspicious.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    16. Re: Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lots of IT help wanted ads are that way. Itâ(TM)s a giant fishing trip for the hiring company. They really have no intention of hiring someone outside of the company anyway.....unless itâ(TM)s the one in ten thousand who happens to have all of the obscure skills and qualifications listed.

    17. Re:Good by hey! · · Score: 1

      The problem is even bad operations get some things right.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    18. Re:Good by vtcodger · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Isn't this about Verizon failing, not the gov?"

      Largely. However in a perfect world Brennan's Verizon accounts would contain nothing but emails to his family and friends, ecommerce orders and confirmations, and the usual spam. All his government traffic would be from his .gov account and even that would only contain unclassified material. Classified stuff goes by other means.

      Got all that?

      Think it works?

      --
      You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
    19. Re: Good by Monster_user · · Score: 1

      A competent I.T. lead doesn't mean an organization is competent with I.T.

      Mandatory meetings regarding "reply to" and "from" don't necessarily do squat. Even when they do help, it only helps to contain the damage. An organization is only as strong or as competent as its weakest link.

    20. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're dead wood, creimer. It's cheaper to keep you "employed" than dealing with you in prison after your inevitable mass shooting.

    21. Re: Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for proving once again that the whole Liberal show parade of tolerance and fight against homophobia is one big sham. You guys just can't help yourselves from being bigger pieces of shit than the people you're mocking.

    22. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're thinking USPS. Creimer works for NSA/CIA/FBI/GPO (pick one).

    23. Re: Good by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Thanks

      You're welcome. I live to serve.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    24. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm starting to recognize those creimerisms... "You're thinking", as if you knew anything. "There's this perception" and "Most people think" are also your go-to delusions when spewing your mentally-ill sewer fires.

    25. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every creimertard thinks every AC is creimer. So the shitposting shithole continues...

    26. Re:Good by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      No idea, I only reason the summaries, but it doesn't sound like his gov business was in his Verizon or iCloud account to me.

      But that's not really my point.

      I read a summary about the failure of Verizon to have even basic security training for it's people in charge of resetting passwords, and the first post basically says it's from the culture of lack of accountability in government. I really don't see how the two are related.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    27. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sound bitter sweet fits.

    28. Re: Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I try not to feed the trolls, but-
      "Gamble, aged 15 at the time, also persuaded a helpdesk at the FBI that he was the then deputy director Mark Giuliano"
      Sounds like the government to me.

    29. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I forgot your "every AC" delusion, which is really just a subset of the "you're thinking" thought-pattern. You know very well the only ACs that know you're creimer are the ACs posting at you. No other AC cares or knows.

    30. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "You sound bitter sweet fits."

      Touchdown, creimer. That's how I know I won again, when those big useless mongoloid fingers of yours mash the wrong keys!

      But even mongoloids manage to achieve love and sex...

    31. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many ACs care. But you dismissed them as creimer and continue your shitposting shithole ways. Shit, shit, shit.

      Stop being a shithead and stop shitting up Slashdot. You're a bigger shitter than creimer.

    32. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " You're a bigger shitter than creimer."

      Even this guy is an amateur next to creimer's digital sewer fires.

    33. Re:Good by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      "Isn't this about Verizon failing, not the gov?"

      Largely. However in a perfect world Brennan's Verizon accounts would contain nothing but emails to his family and friends, ecommerce orders and confirmations, and the usual spam. All his government traffic would be from his .gov account and even that would only contain unclassified material. Classified stuff goes by other means.

      Got all that?

      Think it works?

      That has nonthing to with with government, but that single incompetent or corrupt individual.

    34. Re:Good by kilodelta · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't be so sure of this. State Government by hook or by crook manages to secure things. The Federal side though is full of holes.

      Part of it has to do with Congress starving budgets. But this kids only mistake was messing with the FBI. If he'd just done Verizon which btw, is corporate America and has experience breeches before. When you put people that are art majors in place as you CISO you're gonna get breeched.

    35. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who the fuck is modding this shit up a day later!??

      MOD THIS SHITPOSTING IDIOT DOWN!

    36. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not every mod is a creimertard.

    37. Re:Good by eric_harris_76 · · Score: 1

      There's a limit to how sucky a company in the private sector can be. Eventually, no amount of marketing and unthinking brand loyalty (what a delightfully awful term, "brand loyalty") can keep the company going. Hiring people for their connections rather than their abilities hastens the decline. (If it doesn't, they weren't really the wrong people, now were they?)

      But Amtrak and the Post Office and unaccredited school districts just keep chugging alone, funded by taxpayers.

      The limit there is how much the taxpayers are willing to tolerate. And apparently, that limit is nowhere near being reached.

      --
      There's no time like the present. Well, the past used to be.
    38. Re:Good by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      There's a limit to how sucky a company in the private sector can be.

      Not really. Not with our corporate bankruptcy laws. There's even a doctrine in the corporate world called, "falling upward".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    39. Re: Good by glaucomys · · Score: 1

      Stop acting butt-hurt, if I may say. Lack of humour has nothing to do with sexual orientation

  2. Mainstream media will give little airtime to this by bogaboga · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Yes, they will accord little to no serious air time to this story. Instead, they will promote the so called [Russian] "collusion", something I have never bought.

    But that aside, isn't this rather embarrassing?

  3. ayy by thebullshitpatrol · · Score: 1

    No zero-day reward?

    1. Re:ayy by bobstreo · · Score: 1

      No zero-day reward?

      Stupidity is its own reward. The gift that keeps on giving until you win a Darwin award.

  4. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    tl;dr

  5. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 2

    Wow, that's a really long post for insisting you believe in magical invisible pink unicorns. What, you don't believe in magical invisible pink unicorns? But you have to! You can't prove they don't exist!

  6. They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Waste of talent in prison

    1. Re:They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      He has a future in politics

    2. Re: They need to give him a JOB by mrchew1982 · · Score: 1

      No kidding, they should be hiring the kid, not sending him to prison!

    3. Re: They need to give him a JOB by gravewax · · Score: 2

      why? social engineerings isn't some amazing skill. It just requires a little research and a huge pair of cojona's

    4. Re:They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He'll just tell the guard that he is supposed to be released and they will direct him to the right line.

    5. Re:They need to give him a JOB by JeffOwl · · Score: 1

      I suppose if you thought you could watch over his shoulder enough to ensure he was actually doing what you hired him to do, and no more... But I think we've demonstrated over the years that we really aren't very good at that.

    6. Re:They need to give him a JOB by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 1

      Waste of talent in prison

      Social engineering isn't talent. It's just being smooth and convincing when talking to people. This feat while not insignificant, isn't really all that news worthy. From the perspective of a network attack, he simply went for the weakest link: The Humans.

      Also, just because he was clever and broke into places he shouldn't be doesn't make him some kind of hero or genius. It's not like he used this talent to acquire something useful to ALL of us, like say, for example, Edward Snowden did. A con man (starting young) is caught, prosecuted and jailed. Nothing to see here.

    7. Re:They need to give him a JOB by mars-nl · · Score: 1

      He is a hero in the sense he pointed out major flaws in how Verizon handles security and in how the CIA director handles security (iCloud, really?). All companies and governments (can) learn big lessons from this that is worth as much as sending 10000 people to a security course.

    8. Re: They need to give him a JOB by butchersong · · Score: 1

      "Aye-up govnah. I head of the CIA. I'm a bleedin' high flier of 100% US decent and I need access to all yer files..." Genius.

    9. Re:They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any security person worth their salt already knew about these kind of security holes... since they were invented many moons ago.

      Hero? For they very small minded.

    10. Re:They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually no. He is a good person and shouldn't go work for the crooks.

    11. Re: They need to give him a JOB by swillden · · Score: 1

      cojonas

      Female testicles? Would those be ovaries?

      I'm not sure if this is better or worse than the other misspelling of "cojones" that I often see, which is "cajones" (meaning "large boxes", usually referring to drawers in dressers and cabinets).

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    12. Re: They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure he's not Superman but you have to admit not everyone has the talent for this. He would be a good candidate for the CIA.

    13. Re: They need to give him a JOB by gravewax · · Score: 1

      this is not a rare skill. It is one of the easiest positions to fill in security teams as literally a shit ton of people can do it, all it requires is confidence and being well prepared.

    14. Re: They need to give him a JOB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh wow -

      I am a drummer (male) who also plays a cajon.

      I now need to get another one.

  7. All I can say is wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now that's social engineering!

    1. Re:All I can say is wow by PPH · · Score: 1

      Right.

      And it was taking advantage of the fact that, generally, big shots in the government and industry don't like to go through the normal channels us plebes would have to. John Brennan or Mark Giuliano's iPad can't connect? They call the help desk and expect a fix Right Now! Ask them for some sort of identity verification and you'll risk getting on some TLA's shit list. So you reset their password or do whatever they ask for.

      The FBI is particularly susceptible to social engineering attacks. To the point that, when they had more responsibility for conducting background checks for security clearances, the DoD was always bitching about how they were giving up more information than they were collecting while interviewing friends/neighbors.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:All I can say is wow by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 1
      taking advantage of the fact that, generally, big shots in the government and industry think like 15 year olds.

      FTFY

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    3. Re:All I can say is wow by PPH · · Score: 1

      Sperg out if they don't get what they want? Yeah.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  8. So many mistakes, on so many levels... by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2

    Hopefully Verizon, et alia, will learn something from this.

    1. Re:So many mistakes, on so many levels... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The Verizon and other employees and their supervisors who create their service policies don't face charges, so no, nothing will probably happen for a long time. Only when people start dying, something will happen eventually when the body count is high enough for the pattern to be noticed.

  9. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Yes, it's rather embarrassing this is being posted now 4 months after his trial and 2 weeks after his sentencing as reported by the mainstream media.

  10. Children are our future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And they say kids have no ambition these days.

  11. join the army or prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    join the army or prison

  12. secret infomation on non-secure devices? by joe_frisch · · Score: 2

    Is this implying that the CIA director keeps secret information on things like ipads and non-secure cloud storage????

    1. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Not necessarily. Maybe he only managed to get at the victim's personal email and holiday pics. But if that victim happens to be the director of the FBI, you gonna have a bad time regardless.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    2. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      This student got access to the CIA Director’s accounts and certain devices, not those of the FBI Director.

      Additionally the summary says he “also persuaded a helpdesk at the FBI that he was the then deputy director Mark Giuliano”, but doesn’t say he accomplished anything with that.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been googling, but haven't found any articles claiming anything classified was accessed. Just personal email acounts and an unclassified FBI site.

    4. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by joe_frisch · · Score: 1

      May well be true, but then there isn't that much to the story.

    5. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Is this implying that the CIA director keeps secret information on things like ipads and non-secure cloud storage????

      Is this implying you don't realise the number of companies and governments who have approved cloud storage and mobile devices to store secret data?

      The iPad part of your comment is especially headscratcing. For all the shit I heap on Apple constantly, failure to offer ways to secure data on devices is not something I criticise them on.

    6. Re:secret infomation on non-secure devices? by joe_frisch · · Score: 1

      I don't know if there are any approved cloud storage solutions for classified data. It would surprise me, but its possible. Most secret data has to stored on isolated networks. If they exist, I can't imagine that icloud is one of them. I don't expect Apple to offer a classified data storage solution, it doesn't seem like that fits with their business model. I do expect anyone with access to classified or even sensitive data to keep that data only on secure devices.

      A hack of the CIA directors icloud storage should have turned up things like family photos and shopping lists, not sensitive information on mid-east policies.

  13. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kind of burying the lede in your comment there.

  14. Re:Shut up Americans by Dutchmaan · · Score: 2

    ....and whom do you represent please?

  15. Re: Good riddance genocidal hillary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HUH, Brennan's wife was aged 15 at the time.

  16. Need job? Anti-government organization is hiring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just come up to New Hampshire an partake in the Free State Project.

  17. Now imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What our actual enemies are doing.
    How incompetent are these companies?

  18. Re:Shut up Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're legalizing marijuana.

  19. Good thing it wasn't AT$T or Concast... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or the kid would have access to that big red button on the big boy desk.

  20. Re:Shut up Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would guess Russia.

  21. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3

    Yes, they will accord little to no serious air time to this story. Instead, they will promote the so called [Russian] "collusion", something I have never bought.

    Of course, why wouldn't they? One issue will have an effect on a tiny group of people over their lifetimes while the other issue has the potential to impact just about every person on the planet. Also, even if you don't believe it, you should see this how the president does, "think of the ratings!"

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  22. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How sad. Someone (not you) took the time to write up all that, yet 3 words, 19 characters, are all that I need to completely disprove everything you said.

    My. Religion. Disagrees.

  23. So this means... by bradley13 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If this: "military operations and intelligence operations in Afghanistan and Iran" ...is the kind of thing that John Brennen keeps on an ISPs servers, instead of secured government systems, then he needs the cell right next to Hillary.

    Oh, right. They are our betters. Laws don't apply to them.

    --
    Enjoy life! This is not a dress rehearsal.
    1. Re: So this means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hilarious that you somehow think Hillary deserves a cell and Trump doesn't. Because if Hillary deserves to go to jail then he definitely does.

    2. Re:So this means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lock her up! Build the fence. Drain the pond! So many carried out promises.

  24. Not surprised by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Iâ(TM)m not overly surprised by this; the verification process used by Verizon tech support is basically your address and whatever else you can verify; additionally Iâ(TM)m not sure if youâ(TM)re aware of this but Verizon outsources the majority of their phone work and the folks you call are often not even in the US. The technical ability of the Tech Support folks is usually just a 6 week course that outlines how to troubleshoot no route, no sync and email issues etc... They usually donâ(TM)t cover much information about social engineering etc. I know this because I used to be a technical trainer for one of Verizonâ(TM)s outsourcing partners.

  25. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by sky_khan72 · · Score: 1

    Sorry, I have not read all this bull... uhhm, letin. I mean bulletin. Anyway, you are essentially right. Because of this, You (and some people like you) are the reason why I am a pastafarian for a while. I believe in our holy moly god, Flying Spaghetti Monster. Why ? Just because nobody can disprove this. So, I believe that he created the the earth and universe while being a little tipsy and I believe you would not exist if he had created earth soberly.

  26. Brittish? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that a new way of spelling "Russian"?

  27. Re: The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    God damnit! How many times do we have to do this? I swear to god I'm an atheist!

  28. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Could you explain it slower? I don't get it.

  29. Wrong person by Geekbot · · Score: 1

    15 year old cons yahoo or whoever into giving up an email account. Wrong person is going to jail.

    1. Re:Wrong person by MrL0G1C · · Score: 1

      Unlikely he'll go to jail, he's a kid and this is the UK. Having said that, strings could get pulled or threats made, it likely depends on what the judge gets up to in his spare time.

      --
      Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
  30. Re:Shut up Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    We're legalizing marijuana.

    We are weaponising marijuana

    You will probably be healthier and happier, but we will win in the long run!

  31. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey, God went to all the trouble to be born so that he could be killed to make amends for a covenant that he created so that we could be saved. It all makes sense!

  32. doesn't make sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would a Verizon person have access to such information in the first place. I smell a fake story here, or at least one where the information wasn't that high in classification.

  33. Re:Shut up Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    she represents anyone paying attention

  34. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It had better be a lot more than "embarrassing."

    It would appear that critical elements of our governance are kept safe not by end-to-end competence, but by the public's general disinclination to attempt a breach.

    Of course, foreign intelligence institutions, as well as foreign and domestic criminals, have no such inhibitions. This story will be seen, to them, as an open invitation.

    Assuming, of course, that they haven't already done all the breaching and stealing they care to.

  35. Re:Shut up Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you know that AC is a she, you're that AC.

  36. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by serviscope_minor · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, they will accord little to no serious air time to this story

    Good job denying reality. It's on literally every main stream media site.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  37. Instead of prosecuting this kid..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They should be grooming him to work for the CIA.

    1. Re: Instead of prosecuting this kid..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They'll call him a terrorist and lock him up with the other brown people.

  38. Re: The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

    I am both an atheist and the director of the CIA.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  39. CIA director uses personal email to... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Talk about classified sensitive stuff, hmm?

  40. I for one like it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    R.I.P. Mr. (not real name) Brennan.

  41. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by bogaboga · · Score: 0

    Good job denying reality. It's on literally every main stream media site.

    You have grave comprehension skills, don't you?

    You will benefit from a class in the art of English comprehension. To this end, you could perhaps explore availing yourself to some of these classes. You will not lose.

    The keyword in my statement is *air time* - meaning coverage on the airwaves. Not snippets of the topic on websites that not so many visit.

  42. Don't forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Encryption is bad. We need backdoors." And now you know why this is bad idea. If a 15 year old got in, RU already did. You can bet on it.

  43. We don't need Apple to break into phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just Verizon as an Internet provider to sell browsing history or provide the keys to cloud services. Funny how laws and loopholes work. Ain't that right Ajit Pai, aka "Piece of Shit."

  44. Re:The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Memnos · · Score: 1

    You must have some pretty ugly psychological scars for the batshit crazy to be so strong in you.

    --
    I don't trust atoms -- they make up stuff.
  45. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're kind of right in that it's hard to find much (any) air time being given to this story, but there's plenty written about it by the US MSM.

    I can't figure out what "collusion" has to do with the story. Do you mean you think the MSM should focus on Kane Gamble instead of Donald Trump?

    I can't imagine that maintream media find Gamble all that interesting. The kid got into some private accounts (like AOL) and an unclassified FBI site. It's somewhat significant but not very significant. No classified info was accessed. It's kind of a "meh".

  46. Re: Good... by dougdonovan · · Score: 0

    verizon hired yet another person from india that was...gullible...its their customer service...thats where it starts.

  47. We are a long way past smoking guns by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    something I have never bought.

    Hello, the evidence is right out there in the open.

    The dutch were so deep in Cozy Bear's systems that they were running facial recognition on everybody coming and going into the building. Even william gibson thinks its exactly like a william gibson novel. The dutch were able to watch the DNC hacks from inside Cozy Bear in real time.

    But wait, there's more...

    Papadopoulos was speaking with people he believed to be working for the Russian MFA, according to his own plea deal.

    But wait, there's more...

    Carter Page is listed on a 2013 FBI affidavit against SVR officers as having been targeted by them, (he also confirmed this to HPSCI according to his own transcript)

    But wait, there's more...

    Don Jr in response to an email suggesting a russian government official wanted to give him dirt on Clinton "as part of the Russian government's support of your father", he writes "I love it" and invites Kushner and Manafort to that meeting. according to his own twitter post

    But wait, there's more...

    Mike Flynn talks to the Russian ambassador and then lies about it in an interview with the FBI where he was told lying was a felony. According to his own plea deal

    We are a long way past 'there is no smoking gun'. If the existing 21 gun salute doesn't do it for you, nothing new will.

    1. Re:We are a long way past smoking guns by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shut up! A rich man is going to save the masses and there's nothing these Russian collusion lies can do to stop it!
      All heil Donald Trump!

  48. the CIA's a funny organization by strstr · · Score: 0

    I know they knew this guy was a perp and gave him what he wanted. The CIA has advanced brain enhancement techniques & training. They would only give people sensitive information when they intended to do so.

    https://www.trumpsweapon.com/

  49. IMHO by basicprimitives · · Score: 1

    He must get medal and reward for demonstrating vulnerabilities of the system.

  50. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by deathguppie · · Score: 1

    yup, Trump had nothing to do with Russia ever.. except maybe..

    2008 Trump "Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia" http://time.com/4433880/donald...

    2013 Trump appears in a music video by the son of Aras Agalarov https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    2014-2015 - Starting in 2014, Trump oddly Tweeted Nine Times to Deleted Russian Twitter Accounts About Running for President. https://www.pastemagazine.com/...
    11/23/2014 - "@russiannavyblog: @dr_rita39 I follow Mr. Trump in a crusade to get him to restore Western Civilization with a Trump/Palin '16 ticket!" https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    12/20/2014 - "@VladimirRussia7: "@realDonaldTrump :Be sure to set exceptional goals for your 2015 resolutions. Push yourself, you can do it. Think Big!"" https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    12/24/2014 - "@VladimirRussia7: @realDonaldTrump Merry Christmas,my favorite billionaire!" Thanks! https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    12/27/2014 - @VladimirRussia7: @realDonaldTrump and \@mcuban and \@WarrenBuffett are my favorite billionaires and heroes." https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    1/17/2015 -"@VladimirRussia7: @realDonaldTrump Oh,How I respect you- a billionaire,a family man,and a TV Star!" Thanks. https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    1/30/2015 -"@VladimirRussia7 You are the best #billionare and the great teacher!I love your inspiring books!" Thanks and good luck.https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/561179324699910147
    1/30/2015 - "@russiannavyblog: @realDonaldTrump An announcement Mr Trump will run for President and fix the Obama-ruined nation?" https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    3/11/2015 - "@russiannavyblog: @Joe3957 If there is anything America desperately needs, it's a Trump run!" https://twitter.com/realDonald...
    3/11/2015 - \@monkiekaty: @realDonaldTrump Yes! Yes! Yes! Trump for President https://twitter.com/realDonald...

    I could really fill a volume here there is so much out there.

    If America want's to represent Democratic values i.e. capitalism, rule by the people for the people, on a world stage, with the willingness to represent and defend those people who cannot. Then we must as a nation defend those things. We have a president who will not or cannot defend those things that have been so sacred to our institution. The rule of law over government, the desire to promote the will of the people over tyrannical leaders, the hope that all of us will have some say in our own lives, and the willingness to defend others. That is the America I fight for. Not Nazi's, not white power, not America first. https://www.snopes.com/dr-seus...

    --
    once more into the breach
  51. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Right, so you'll be monitoring each media channel closely to see how much airtime they each give it?

    Or will you discount that as "not serious air time"? Or will you take the word of some pundit on (media channel of your choice) who claims to have done this study in a weeks' time? Or will you just take it for granted that you were right, you must have been because your understanding of the universe requires it, and therefore no checking is necessary?

  52. ASM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Verses differences. Static and Automated.

  53. Not surprising by backslashdot · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Given a person with the brain of an 8 year old convinced 46% of voters he is qualified to be president, anything is possible nowadays.

    1. Re:Not surprising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Given a person with the brain of an 8 year old convinced 46% of voters he is qualified to be president, anything is possible nowadays.

      stop bringing up the past, that was almost 8 years ago

  54. Re: The Absurdity Of Claiming To Be An Atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bullshit! There's no way there's a director of CIA.

  55. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK, so if he has limited understanding of English, why didn't you at least try to explain it in a simpler way?
    Maybe your understanding of communication is not as good as you think it is.

  56. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

    You will benefit from a class in the art of English comprehension. To this end, you could perhaps explore availing yourself to some of these classes. You will not lose.

    Pro tip: writing english good isnt about how many fancy words you use.

    The keyword in my statement is *air time*

    Eh not my fault that you're unable to make yourself understood. Air time is used to describe amount of coverage, in much the same way we refer to newspapers as "the press" even though even print news papers haven't used actual presses in a rather long time.

    Plus if you're going to be excessively pedantic, most of us get our news over wifi, so air time works perfectly.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  57. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You have grave comprehension skills, don't you?

    Lol. I'm pretty sure he's not a zombie, so I doubt he's very skilled at comprehending graves.

  58. Two questions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would someone who is able to rise to CIA director have anything interesting on Verizon's servers?

    Why is it interesting that a 15 year old was able to do this?. This seems like 12 year old or less territory.

    Definitely give the kid a scholorship funded by the ex-director and the VZ management chain in charge.

  59. Re:Mainstream media will give little airtime to th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're wasting your time with facts and references. For Trumpeters, anything that doesn't fit 'the narrative' is 'fake news'. They'd rather die than admit Trump and his cronies are up to their necks in Russian shit.

  60. Re:One The Jewish Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Management summary:
    Someone doesn't want us to discuss the actual topic, so they post reams of shit to derail the thread.

  61. And lemme guess...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .....they are going to stuff him in some super secret prison strapped down to a chair, and forced to wear a
    Hannibal Lecter mask for the rest of time, right?

      Or.....maybe they can hire him to ferret out holes in their security (keeping a close watch on him while he is doing
    it, of course)

  62. Haha. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha.